Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-07-07
True TO His TRUST.
sY JAMES FRANKLIN Fits

Many of tho readers of this narrative will
easily recall to mind the late Mr.. Abe
Symington. For almost fifty years no face
and figure we're better known upon the
streets Of this great city than. his: and lis
| daily life, his kind, winning demeanor, and
his frequent charities, caused his name al
ways to be spoken with respect and esteem.
At the time OF which am about to write he
was in his sixtieth year. His form was
still erect and his step elastic. His face
was a perfect index of the excellence OF
his character nnd the greatness of his heart,
as well as of the vigorous intellect of the
accomplished man of business. do not
wish to overdraw this picture, but / must
finish 1t with the remark TINT was often
made by his friends and admirers-that
Mr.. Symington came as near being q
perfect character as was permitted to hu-
manity.
Perhaps am partial; but that is natural.
He was my benefactor; to his kindness is
due all that / have become in life. Left q
penniless orphan, my home at the age Of
eight was in q charitable institution OF
which he was q director. Something-I
shall never know what attracted his atten-
tion 10 me, among the two hundred in
mates, upon one of his frequent visits.
His inquiries about me were soon followed
by my transfer to his own house. 1 believe
was not adopted, in the formal sense In
which tho wUru 10 used. sun rotaIuvu
my own name, Lambert Wade; but was
an inmate of my patrons house, and was
never mada 10 feel that L was dependent
upon his bounty. His wife had died some
years before, leaving On infant daughter,
Mildred, who was six years younger than
myself. A maiden sister had the care OF
his house, and we four, with the servants,
made the household. Later on, another
member was added to it, who will presently
be introduced.
Time had passed until 1 was seven
teen years old. / had attended the
| graded schools, graduating in the ac-
| The winter following found me
fully installed in Mr.. Symington's 8
| Office as his clerk and assistant. He carried
on large real estate and loan business,
which il was said his great capacity had
| doubled within the last fifteen years.
Aside from the skilled part of the work,
| there were large ledgers TO keep, letters to
write, and much clerical labor to do. All
this he had usually attended to himself,
for the reason that he could not find a
clerk who exactly suited him. Many were
tried, and after trial were kindly DIS
| missed. II seemed 10 me at this time that
| he was too exacting in this matter; but a
better insight into his ways led me to q
| different opinion. Next after honorable
dealing and industry (as he told me with
| his own lips, one day., his great success in
business was due to care and precision In
all its methods, and he could not bear q
slovenly or careless assistant. If needed
the hint, it was certainly not
thrown away upon me. Aided by my
strong desire to be of service to him,
and with natural liking for the work,
speedily mastered all its minor details; and
it was high qualification to me to find that
all this part of the business was soon
handed over to me, and that was largely
relieving Mr.. Symington by the steadiness
with which kept my desk. NV reflections ns
to how could be of greater service led me
at this time TO make request OF him
which he Immediately granted. In explana-
ton of this, few words about the arrange.
ment OF the building in which the Office wat
situated become necessary.
II was small brick, two STORY structure
which had been built by Mr.. Symingtor
moro than thirty years before, and used by
him for his business ever since. The whole
of the first-story was occupied by the outer
and inner offices. From the inner office
stairway assembled TO a small room
which, as had been informed, Mr.. Sy-
mington had used for his lodging before
his marriage. 1t was now put to no use
From this room, without any intervening
hall or passage, there was door openin:
into store room, which occupied the res
of the upper story. 1t was half filed Will
the disused carpets, chairs, mating, nnd
stove pipe which had from time to time
been brought up here from the office. Nj,
plan was to have the vacant chamber in thu
rear simply furnished for my use, so tina
| 4 al thar ina nj M hOnGN
About the first of June of that yea
Walter Brand came 10 visit Mr.. SyminR
ton. / had never heard of him before, ant
now learned that he was the son or al
elder sister who lived in a distant city
Walter was a very dashing, stylish younI
man of nineteen, who wore the most fash
ionable clothes, and seemed intent only OF
having what he called % good time NJ
one who saw him could help admirinR hi
upright fgurs, his regular features, brigh
eyes, and curly, black hair, and his heart
laugh, which had an infection of mirth II
it. Two persons who were more unlik
externally than plain Lambert Wade anC
handsome Walter Brand, il would be i'm
possible to find. l felt attracted by his 0p
pearance, and made efforts to gain hi
friendship. To my surprise and mortifca
iion, he repelled all OF them. His conver
sation with me when we mot, as of cours
we did several times each day, was of tn
briefest; and more than once he ave me
decided snub. His treatment panied me
but bore it without remark. l was not O
loss to account for IL. His looks an
manner showed me palmer than word
could have told it, that he was angered I
find another person occupying so confden
tial and trusted relation to his uncle as did
Three weeks had passed since the arrive
OF this visitor when 1 became aware OF
change in the usual deneanor OF MI
Symington. He was as punctual and IN
dustrious as ever ut the Office; but hi
face was often troubled, he appeare
more thoughtful, and he talked les
with me In the intervals Of business. Bein
| very little at the house now save at met
times, had not fair opportunity TO judG
il his nephew was connected with his un
easiness; but certainly suspected it. NJ
suspicious were entirely correct. AboJ
hali-past five one afternoon, as / wa
writing at my desk in the outer Office, an
while Mr.. Symington was readingthe news
paper in the inner room, Walter came II
and in a tone which was almost abruI
enough 10 be rude, asked for his uncle.
merely pointed with my pen to the priyai
Office, and went on with my work.
could not see either Of them; indee'
my eyes we're not raised from the larl
pages where / was making my entries; b'
| their words came to me distinctly.
: "Uncle, please let me have fifty dollars.
: why, Walterl You asked me for {